The next stage involves changing from the Wetterstein mountain range into the Lechtal Alps, with the changeover taking place in a rather unspectacular manner in mixed mountain woodland. From Biberwier, walk through the wood once again for quite a climb up to the Wolfratshauser Hut.

From the Coburger Hut, Via Alpina leads westward uphill to the Biberwierer Scharte wind gap, which is situated approx. 100 metres higher in altitude. Just after the refuge, the trail branches off on the left to the Lower Drachenkopf peak. It is by all means possible to climb the Sonnenspitze peak from the wind gap, from where a wonderful panoramic view can be enjoyed. On the other side of the Biberwierer Scharte wind gap, the trail now leads along the narrow boulder-strewn slope steeply downward and later in sharp bends through the pines. At Langlehn, there is a turn-off from the trail onto the Schachtkopf peak, but this should be ignored. Via Alpina continues to follow the trail – now in a north-westerly direction – and soon comes onto the "Knappensteig" track leading northward to Biberwier. You will come onto the forest road, cutting across it again on a track and then staying to the left for a while before turning right at the next fork in the road through woodland and later over the meadows directly into Biberwier village centre (1h 40min from the wind gap). On the northern outskirts of the village, the track turns off to the Wolfratshauser Hut. The trail turns to the left at the chapel. At the wayside shrine, follow the track straight ahead up through the woods. At the next fork in the road, take the track straight ahead once again, still passing through the wood on a bearably steep upward course. After approx. 2h you will reach the Grubig Alm meadow with the mountain station of the Lermooser mountain railways. From here, follow trail 01 again, the northern alpine long-distance hiking trail to the North West. You will reach the Wolfratshauser Hut at 1,750m in approx. 1h without any great changes in altitude and after crossing the ski runs several times. In Biberwier, follow the course of the trail at the southern end of the village. You will soon reach the Knappensteig track, which continues to lead towards the Biberwierer Scharte wind gap until the fork in the road. Here, go left and climb steeply up to the wind gap. (Christina Schwann, OeAV)

Natural and cultural heritage

In this stage, the route passes unnoticeably from the Mieminger chain into the Biberwierer valley via the Bieberwier Scharte wind gap, which belongs to the Zugspitz-Arena region. The valley was created by a violent rock fall that came down after the Ice Age and formed today’s pass. It covered the entire area to the north as far as Bieberwier and to the south as far as Nassereith with scree and rock boulders of main dolomite and platy limestone. Even the strangely shaped hills were created by this rock fall. An ancient pass road used by the Romans bears witness to the former connection of the "Via Claudia Augusta" from Bauzanum (Bolzano) via the Reschen and Fern passes to Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg), the main town of the Roman province of Raetia. This Roman road, which was already paved before the birth of Christ, is older than the second important crossing in the alpine area, the Brenner pass. The cart tracks of the Roman legions can still be clearly seen today. In the time of the Migration Period from the 2nd to the 6th century A.D., the Romans had to withdraw from the Donau again far ahead of the Teutons, and the Bavarians conquered the entire area between the Enns and Lech rivers in the 5th and 6th centuries. In about 400 A.D., the Alemanni had reached the Lech river, which forms the border between these two tribes even today. The area around Bieberwier then was very damp. That is why it was only populated permanently in the 13th century by so-called "Schweighof” farmers. The name "Biberwier" derives from the term "Biberwuere", which means “beaver tunnels” or “beaver burrows in the moss”. Indeed, there used to be a great many beavers here, who were able to surive in this area longer than anywhere else in Central Europe, before they were also wiped out. The beaver is still on the local coat of arms today and a Bieberwier resort has been established at the valley station of the Marienbergbahn mountain railway. (Christina Schwann, OeAV, Tamara Kerber, TVB Biberwier)

Biberwier Camping Mariencamp is super, 10,- for a night, friendly staff and great showers. In Biberwier is a supermarket, open from 7.30 until 18.30. The path through the forest between Biberwier and Biberwier Scharte is well marked now.